Product and process for elevating lipid blood levels in livestock

Abstract

The present invention provides feed or food products for consumption by animals or humans which include respective quantities of flax oil and non-flax carbohydrate. The flax oil and carbohydrate are mixed together and simultaneously subjected to an elevated temperature of at least about 120° F. and subsequently cooled; the flax oil is used at a level so that the final product contains at least about 5% by weight flax oil. It has been found that the products of the invention, when fed at effective levels, induce increased in vivo synthesis of desirable eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

1 . A method of feeding an animal selected from the group consisting of bovine, ovine, and caprine animals, said method comprising the step of feeding a feed product comprising a mixture including flax oil, flax seed, and a non-flax carbohydrate, said flax oil and non-flax carbohydrate having been mixed together and simultaneously subjected to an elevated temperature of at least about 120° F. through use of a heater to supply heat to the mixture and subsequently cooled, the flax oil content of said feed or food product derived from said flax oil and said flax seed being at a level of at least about 10% by weight, said product also including protein, fiber, and fat different from said flax oil. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of feeding said product at a level to elevate the plasma EPA concentration of said animal by at least about 10%, as compared with the plasma EPA concentration of the animal prior to feeding of the feed product 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , said product being in the form of a cast, solid block. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , said product being in the form of a flowable product. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , said product also including flax oil derived from free fatty acid mixtures, fatty acid soaps, flax oil-containing derivatives of any of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , said non-flax carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of carbohydrate-containing syrups, sugars, starches, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , said protein being present at a level of from about 5-40% by weight. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , said level being from about 10-25% by weight. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , said fat being present at a level of from about 5-35% by weight. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , said level being from about 10-20% by weight. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , said fiber being present at a level of from about 0.25-10% by weight. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , said level being from about 0.5-3% by weight. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , said product including vitamins and minerals. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , said product being in the form of a solid block having a density of from about 50-70 lbs/cu. ft. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , said product being in the form of a solid block, said block having deliquescent properties. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , said flax oil and non-flax carbohydrate having been heated using a heat exchanger. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , said heater-supplied heat being the only source of heat for said mixture. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , said temperature being from about 275-400° F. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of feeding said product at a level to increase the plasma EPA concentration of said animal by at least about 25% as compared with the plasma EPA concentration of the animal prior to feeding of the product. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of feeding said product at a level to provide a flax oil content of at least about 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight of the animal.